Folk Art
Folk art is a genre of art that shares the creator’s traditions, offering not just an artistic display but an opportunity to learn about a culture. Antique, new and vintage folk art typically reflects a heritage or location. It can include utilitarian objects and handmade art as diverse as weather vanes, duck decoys, portraiture and paintings, carnival art and quilts.
Quilts are a quintessential part of American folk art but their roots are international, with quilting dating back to Ancient Egypt. The practice spread to Europe and was especially prominent in the Middle Ages, with one of the oldest surviving examples being the Tristan quilt made in Sicily in the 14th century. They were made as bedcovers and clothing, including as a layer for knights to wear beneath their armor. Native American folk art includes functional objects reflecting their heritage, such as baskets, textiles and wooden pieces.
Elsewhere, the vast range of work associated with Mexican folk art includes masks made by Mexican craftspeople for traditional celebrations and ceremonial dances. Mexican masks are part of the country’s folk-art traditions that go back thousands of years and play a role in festivals and theater.
Works in the folk art tradition are valuable because of the skills involved, like weaving, hand-carving wood and even stonework. Many folk artists are self-taught, while some train as apprentices within their community. By using available materials and taking a personal approach to their creations, artists ensure each piece is unique and conveys a story.
During the Great Depression, artistic materials in America were hard to come by, so artisans used discarded wood from cigar boxes and shipping crates to make highly stylized, notched pieces — most often picture frames and boxes — that are today sought after by collectors. This folk art style is called tramp art and was popular from roughly 1870 until the 1940s.
Folk art brings vibrant culture and traditions into your home. Browse an extensive collection of antique, new and vintage folk art on 1stDibs.
1920s Austrian Vintage Folk Art
Wood
2010s American Folk Art
Steel
1910s Swedish Vintage Folk Art
Fabric, Pine
Late 20th Century American Folk Art
Pine, Paint
Late 19th Century Indian Antique Folk Art
Paper
1930s American Vintage Folk Art
Wool
Late 20th Century Canadian Folk Art
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Folk Art
Copper
Early 20th Century Folk Art
Cotton
19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Copper, Iron
1970s Mexican Vintage Folk Art
Organic Material
1790s Austrian Antique Folk Art
Wood
2010s French Folk Art
Goat Hair, Feathers
2010s French Folk Art
Goat Hair, Cotton
2010s French Folk Art
Goat Hair, Cotton
2010s French Folk Art
Goat Hair, Cotton
2010s French Folk Art
Goat Hair, Cotton, Silk
Mid-20th Century Folk Art
Wool
Late 19th Century German Antique Folk Art
Wood, Paint
Early 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Wood, Paper, Paint
1870s English Antique Folk Art
Wool
1920s French Vintage Folk Art
Wood
20th Century Asian Folk Art
Paint
1960s Mexican Vintage Folk Art
Leather
Mid-20th Century Mexican Folk Art
Wood, Paint
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art
Wool
1960s Canadian Vintage Folk Art
Pine
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Scrap Wood
1820s Austrian Antique Folk Art
Pine
1940s British Vintage Folk Art
Metal
1830s French Antique Folk Art
Natural Fiber
Mid-20th Century Turkish Folk Art
Wool
1940s American Vintage Folk Art
Wood
20th Century Nepalese Folk Art
Sandalwood
Mid-19th Century Bajan Antique Folk Art
Shell, Mahogany
1920s British Vintage Folk Art
Lead
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Folk Art
Ceramic
Mid-19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Wood
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Cotton
1970s Mexican Vintage Folk Art
Linen
Early 19th Century Swedish Antique Folk Art
Pine
Late 20th Century Folk Art
Hardwood
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art
Wool
Late 19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Wood
1870s American Antique Folk Art
Wood
1940s American Vintage Folk Art
Wood
20th Century Moroccan Folk Art
Metal
1910s British Vintage Folk Art
Pine
1850s Swedish Antique Folk Art
Iron
19th Century American Antique Folk Art
Wood, Paint
1950s French Vintage Folk Art
Wood
Mid-19th Century English Antique Folk Art
Wool
1920s British Vintage Folk Art
Pine
1860s English Antique Folk Art
Wool
1890s American Antique Folk Art
Oak, Paint
1860s English Antique Folk Art
Wool
Early 20th Century American Folk Art
Rope, Glass, Wood
19th Century English Antique Folk Art
Canvas, Wood, Paint